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Mystery Road

Play trailer Poster for Mystery Road 2013 2h 2m Crime Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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91% Tomatometer 35 Reviews 64% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
An aboriginal detective returns to the Outback to investigate the murder of a teenage girl.
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Mystery Road

Mystery Road

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Critics Consensus

Mystery Road evokes classic Westerns while using its Australian outback setting to delve into a surprisingly layered -- and powerfully impactful -- array of social issues.

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Critics Reviews

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Mark Kermode Observer (UK) Sen (who also shoots, scores and edits) goes walkabout through the minefield of contemporary Australian culture, offering an evocative snapshot of an unravelling crime scene - social, racial and economic. Rated: 4/5 Aug 31, 2014 Full Review Tara Brady Irish Times A superior and taut outback adventure, you'd have to go back to Samson and Delilah to find an Australian feature this bonsa. Rated: 4/5 Aug 29, 2014 Full Review Geoffrey Macnab Independent (UK) Slow-burning but very powerful. Rated: 4/5 Aug 29, 2014 Full Review Nicholas Bell IONCINEMA.com An exploration of racial tensions through a radically placed protagonist, as well as a rousing finale, compensate for the lack of narrative oomph. Aug 23, 2019 Full Review Alexa Dalby Dog and Wolf Huge skies, low horizons, glowing orange sunsets and a depiction of a culture and environment we rarely see in genre mystery movies make Mystery Road an unusual and thought-provoking film. Rated: 3/5 Jun 4, 2019 Full Review Jared Mobarak The Film Stage I won't lie and say Mystery Road kept me on the edge of my seat for its duration, but there is a lot to enjoy in its delicately peeled back layers. Rated: B- Jun 27, 2016 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Ron G Complete waste of my time. I usually love 'down under' movies but this one left me so confused that I had to Goggle: 'Mystery Road explained' to make any sense of the ending. That wasn't because of the accents but because of the plot/action. If you don't agree with me count the number of shots were exchanged between the characters at the end and somehow our 'hero' and his vehicle escaped death/damage. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 12/11/23 Full Review Wayne K A slow-burn old school Western that eschews out and out violence in favour of weaving a tapestry of conspiracy, corruption and murder, Mystery Road follows an Aboriginal detective, who asks so many questions that it might make a fun, or possibly fatal drinking game. The central story revolves around the quest to solve a murder, which is pretty typical fare in a film like this, but the steady way it unfolds, as well as the social commentary it works in, keeps things compelling and unpredictable. You start to feel like our lead is one person against the world, working in a small town where bad things are ignored or dismissed for fear of rocking the boat, and where the most unscrupulous characters can get away with the worst crimes if they just do them out of sight. Hugo Weaving plays the kind of character who you can never get a handle on, and it gives his scenes with our lead an extra edge. The film builds to a tense climax, and the movies lack of music helps to emphasise the isolated feel of an Ozzy town. It's pace might put some people off, but for those who are willing to soak in the atmosphere and story, it's a very underrated flick. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/11/23 Full Review Gareth v Exceptional modern day western set in the remote and rugged yet stunning outback of Australia. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 06/23/23 Full Review L H One of the best TV series ever made. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/25/23 Full Review Kyle J Very slow-moving. Great acting. Realistic, just not much action till the end. C+ Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review pj m Film was great. Hoping to also see the tv series. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis An aboriginal detective returns to the Outback to investigate the murder of a teenage girl.
Director
Ivan Sen
Producer
David Jowsey
Screenwriter
Ivan Sen
Production Co
Bunya Productions, Screen Australia
Genre
Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
Australian English
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 13, 2014
Runtime
2h 2m
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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